Ninth-inning double gives UCF road upset of No. 4 Florida

GAINESVILLE – Just as quickly as momentum swung Florida's way, it was gone.

A resilient UCF team snatched it back, getting two runs in the ninth to take a 4-3 win over the No. 4 Gators at McKethan Stadium on Tuesday.

Less than an inning after it had taken the lead, Florida (24-6) saw its three game win streak come to an end as the Knights (20-9) put an end to their three-game losing streak.

UCF bounced back from a series sweep against Southern Miss last weekend to earn its first win in Gainesville since 2007.

"Especially after the tough series we had this weekend to come in here and do that, takes a lot of confidence to come back and win that game and it takes a lot of poise to be able to hold onto that while you're on the road," said Knight's coach Terry Rooney.

A tie ballgame at 2-2 going into the late innings went the Gators way in the bottom of the eighth. Jeff Moyer, pinch hitting for Zack Powers in the No. 9 spot, hit a two-run single to center with two outs to put Florida ahead.

But UCF responded in the ninth. Anthony DeSclafini (4-1) walked the first batter before getting two strikeouts. With runners on first and second, Darnell Sweeney hit a two-run double to drive in the winning run.

"The only thing going through my mind was just to relax," Sweeney said. "I made the error in the last inning, so I just wanted to try to pick up my team, don't be the last out."

With Florida's No 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the ninth, the Gators struck out twice and flew out to end the game.

The loss was a blow to a Gators team coming of a series weep of Tennessee and looking for momentum heading into an eight-game stretch away from home.

The Gators stranded 10 runners on base, including ending the first, third, fourth and sixth inning with runners in scoring position.

"It's hard. You sit there as a coach, you try to move guys up with a sac and you give up an out, but with these bats, you just can't play for the big inning as much," said Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan. "When you move them up and you give an out up and you don't drive them in, all you gotta do is put the ball in play. You're not looking for a hit. You get a hit, that's gravy. But if you just put the ball, the infield's playing back, get a ground ball you get a run, those are the kind of things that are hurting us right now."

Florida also could be without shortstop Nolan Fontana, who left the game in the seventh inning. Fontana backpedalled to get a fly ball, but it went over his head and he fell in the outfield. O'Sullivan said he wasn't sure of Fontana's status or if he was being examined for a concussion. He did not return to the game.

Florida scored two early, getting a two-run single from Austin Maddox in the first after Knights starter Chase Bradford loaded the bases with a hit batter and two walks.

UCF tied the game with solo home runs from Ryan Breen and Erik Hempe in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Hempe had one homer coming into the game, and it was the first for Breen.

UCF has a home series against Tulane this weekend while Florida is at Mississippi State.